Process for the activation of a catalyst comprising a cobalt compound and a support

ABSTRACT

A process for the preparation of a catalyst which comprises activating a catalyst precursor comprising a cobalt compound and a support with a gas comprising at least 5 mol % of a hydrocarbon.

[0001] The present invention relates to a catalyst and to a process for the preparation of a catalyst, in particular a catalyst for use in the partial oxidation of a hydrocarbon such as methane to synthesis gas or for use in a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction or other reactions.

[0002] Catalysts are well known to be useful in certain reactions. In particular they can be used to promote particular reactions which would not normally take place in the absence of the catalyst.

[0003] An example of a reaction where a catalyst is useful is the production of syngas, which is a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen in varying proportions. It is known to produce syngas by a steam reforming reaction wherein steam and methane are passed over a catalyst. Such a reaction is endothermic.

[0004] Recently syngas has also been produced by the partial oxidation of methane (POM). In this process methane is partially oxidised with oxygen in the following reaction:

CH₄+1/20₂→CO+2H₂

[0005] The POM reaction has the great advantage of being exothermic, and hence does not require a great energy input. The process is described in further detail, for example, in Choudhary et al, Fuel, vol. 77, No. 15, pp 1803-1807, 1998, Slagtern et al, Catalysis Today, 46, 107-115, 1998 and WO 01/36,323. In a modification of this process, other hydrocarbons may be used as well as or instead of the methane. As used in this specification, the term “POM” is intended to cover not only the partial oxidation of methane but also the partial oxidation of any hydrocarbon.

[0006] The POM reaction generally uses a nickel or cobalt containing catalyst or a noble metal catalyst. For example Choudhary et al discloses the use of various such catalysts. For example, a cobalt containing catalyst can be prepared by mixing cobalt nitrate with a support such as silica gel and deionised water to form a thick paste, mixing the paste and drying and decomposing the paste in air at 600° C. for 4 hours before calcining the catalyst at 900° C. for 4 hours. This reference also indicates that the catalysts may be reduced using hydrogen before they are used, but that the performance of reduced and unreduced catalysts is comparable. It has also found that the best catalysts are nickel-containing catalysts such as NiO—Tho₂, Ni—ZrO₂ and Ni—UO₂.

[0007] Another example of a process where a catalyst is useful is in a Fisher Tropsch synthesis reaction in which a mixture of hydrocarbons is produced from carbon monoxide and H₂.

[0008] We have now found a further catalyst which can be used in a variety of reactions such as a POM or Fischer Tropsch reaction. We have surprisingly found that this catalyst may have one or more advantages over the known catalysts.

[0009] The present invention provides a process for the preparation of a catalyst which comprises activating a catalyst precursor comprising a cobalt compound and a support with a gas comprising a hydrocarbon, especially at least 5 mol % of a hydrocarbon.

[0010] The present invention further provides the use of a catalyst obtainable by a process as defined above or a catalyst as defined above in the partial oxidation of a hydrocarbon or in a Fischer Tropsch reaction.

[0011] The present invention yet further provides a process for the preparation of a mixture of hydrocarbons by a Fischer-Tropsch reaction, which comprises passing a mixture of carbon monoxide and H₂ over a catalyst obtainable by a process as defined above or a catalyst as defined above.

[0012] The present invention additionally provides a process for the partial oxidation of a hydrocarbon which comprises passing such hydrocarbon and oxygen over a catalyst obtainable by a process as defined above or a catalyst as defined above.

[0013] As used herein, the term “catalyst” covers both the catalyst in active form and the catalyst in precursor form since it may undergo change in the reaction environment. The term “catalyst precursor” is to be construed widely, covering not only a freshly prepared catalyst precursor or a catalyst precursor which is unreduced or which has not been used in a reaction which it catalyses, but also any precursor which can be used as a catalyst after activation, such as a catalyst which has already been used in a reaction which it catalyses. Similarly the term “activation” is to be understood as not only including activating as unused or unreduced catalyst precursor but also activating a used or reduced catalyst. Therefore the term includes within its scope any activation, including regeneration of a used catalyst.

[0014] The process of the present invention uses an activation step with a hydrocarbon rather than with hydrogen as disclosed in, for example, Choudhary et al. It has surprisingly been discovered that such a catalyst may have advantageous characteristics such as a better activity and less susceptibility to deactivation over time.

[0015] The catalyst is prepared by activating a catalyst precursor with a hydrocarbon. The catalyst precursor contains a cobalt compound and a support. Such catalyst precursors are known and disclosed in the prior art, for example in Choudhary et al.

[0016] The support may be any support which is capable of bearing the catalyst in the desired reaction. Such supports are well known in the art. The support may be an inert support, or it may be an active support. Examples of suitable supports are alumina, modified alumina, spinel oxides, silica, modified silica, magnesia, titania, zirconia, a zeolite, β-aluminate and forms of carbon. The alumina or modified alumina may be, for example, α-alumina, β-alumina or γ-alumina. β-alumina and spinel oxides such as barium hexaaluminate have been found to be particularly useful in view of their stability. The carbon may be in the form, for example, of active carbon or carbon nanotubes. A zeolite may be chosen depending on the desired final product. Thus, fr example, it may comprise pores or channels.

[0017] Preferably the support is porous. The particle size is desirably 0.2 μm to 0.4 mm, depending on the application. The surface area is desirably greater than 5 m²/g. One or a mixture of two or more supports may be used.

[0018] The catalyst precursor also comprises a cobalt compound. Any cobalt compound may be used, but preferably it is in the form of a salt, especially an aqueous soluble salt, or oxide. Examples of suitable cobalt salts are cobalt nitrate, acetate, benzoate, oxalate and acetylacetonate. It is preferred to avoid the use of a cobalt halide since the halide may interfere with the support. An example of a suitable cobalt oxide is Co₃O₄. One or a mixture of two or more cobalt salts and/or oxides may be used.

[0019] The catalyst precursor is supported on the support. Depending on the nature of the reaction to be catalysed, the catalyst precursor may be distributed in any desired way on or in the support. Thus it may, for example, be distributed substantially throughout the support or only on the external surface of the support.

[0020] The catalyst precursor may be supported in any known manner. Thus it may, for example, be added to the support in solution in a solvent such as water or an organic solvent such as an alcohol, for example containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms such as an methanol or ethanol and the solvent subsequently removed. The solvent may be removed, for example, by drying at room temperature (20° C.) or above, for example from 50° C. to 250° C. for from 1 to 24 hours. A combination of drying steps may be used. Thus, for example, the supported catalyst precursor may be dried at room temperature for from 2 to 10 hours, and subsequently dried at an elevated temperature, for example from 100° C. to 200° C., especially about 120° C., for from 2 to 8 hours.

[0021] The solution comprising the catalyst precursor may comprise further components if desired. Thus, for example, it may also comprise a promoter or modifier. Suitable promoters are alkaline earth salts such as magnesium, calcium, barium and/or strontium nitrate.

[0022] Suitable promoters also include the oxides of alkali metal, alkaline earth metal or transition metals which are derivable from their soluble compounds, such as their salts, for example LiNO₃, KNO₃, RbNO₃, Ba(NO₃)₂, Mg(NO₃)₂, Ca(NO₃)₂, Sr(NO₃)₂, Zr(NO₃)₂.xH₂O, Ce(NO₃)₃.xH₂O and UO(NO₃)₂. The promoters can be loaded onto the support in any manner, for example by impregnation, especially sequential impregnation or co-impregnation with the cobalt compound.

[0023] Suitable modifiers are rare earth modifiers such as transition metal or rare earth salts or oxides, for example lanthanum and/or cerium nitrate or acetate, or oxides of the d-block transition metals such as Mn, W, Nb and Vn. The modifiers are generally derived from their aqueous soluble compounds such as salts, and may be impregnated into the catalyst support, followed by calcination, for example from 300° C. to 1000° C. for 1 to 24 hours in air. The promoters and modifiers may be used singly or in a combination of two or more. Preferably the supported catalyst precursor does not contain catalyst poisons such as phosphorus oxides, nitrogen oxides or sulphur oxides or compounds, and does not contain components having additional functionality such as absorbers, particularly absorbers for nitrogen oxides and/or sulphur oxides. The supported catalyst precursor, however, desirably comprises a promoter and/or a modifier.

[0024] The supported catalyst precursor may, if desired, be calcined. Calcination is not a required step in the process of the present invention. Calcination can take place in air, another gas comprising oxygen or in an inert atmosphere. A suitable calcination temperature is, for example, from 350° C. to 800° C., especially from 400° C. to 600° C., for from 1 to 10 hours. It is postulated, although we are not bound by this theory, that the calcination step changes the cobalt salt into an oxide form or mixture of oxide forms. The calcination step may also convert the promoter and/or modifier to oxide forms if they are present.

[0025] The supported catalyst precursor desirably comprises from 0.05 to 30 wt % cobalt, especially 0.5 to 15 wt %. For example, the supported catalyst precursor generally comprises from 0.5 to 50 wt % cobalt compound, 0 to 10 wt % promoter and 0 to 20 wt % modifier, especially 0.01 to 5 wt % modifier, based on the total weight of the supported catalyst precursor. For a POM reaction the supported catalyst precursor preferably comprises from 0.5 to 10 wt % cobalt compound, 0 to 5 wt % promoter and 0 to 3 wt % modifier. For a Fischer-Tropsch reaction the supported catalyst precursor preferably comprises from 5 to 40 wt % cobalt compound, 0 to 3 wt % promoter and 0 to 3 wt % modifier. The above percentages for the cobalt compounds are based either on the compound or the cobalt metal in the compound.

[0026] The supported catalyst precursor is then activated with a gas comprising a hydrocarbon. The hydrocarbon may be any hydrocarbon. It may be saturated or unsaturated, for example containing from 1, 2 or 3 or more double and/or triple bonds. It may be linear, cyclic or branched. The hydrocarbon may also be aliphatic or aryl or contain both aliphatic and aryl groups. Desirably the hydrocarbon is a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon containing up to five carbon atoms, especially up to four carbon-atoms. Especially preferred hydrocarbons are methane, ethane, acetylene, propane, propene and butane. One or a mixture of two or more hydrocarbons may be used.

[0027] The gas comprises at least 5 mol % of the hydrocarbon, preferably at least 10 mol %, more preferably at least 20 mol % and even more preferably at least 40 mol %. The hydrocarbon is in gaseous form.

[0028] The gas comprising the hydrocarbon may consist only of the hydrocarbon or may, for example in an amount up to 10 mol %, up to 20 mol % or up to 40 mol %. It may, if desired, comprise an inert gas such as nitrogen and/or argon. It may also comprise a reactive component, such as another component which also activates the catalyst precursor. Thus, for example, the gas may also comprise hydrogen. Especially useful combinations are a combination of methane and/or ethane with hydrogen. If hydrogen is used any ratio of hydrocarbon to hydrogen may be used, but it is preferably 0.04 or 0.05 to 100:1 on a molar basis, more preferably 0.1 or 0.5 to 10:1.

[0029] The activation is carried out by placing the supported catalyst precursor in an atmosphere of the activating gas. Desirably the activating gas is passed over the supported catalyst precursor. An elevated temperature is generally used. Desirably the activation temperature is at least 300° C., for example from 400° C. to 1000C., especially from 4000C. to 800° C. The duration of activation is generally at least 30 minutes, preferably at least one hour, for example, from 1 to 20 hours, especially from 2 to 5 hours. The activation temperature may vary depending on the nature of the catalyst precursor and/or the hydrocarbon. Atmospheric pressure is normally used for the activation step, although a reduced or elevated pressure may also, if desired, be used.

[0030] The catalyst precursor may be activated in the reaction vessel in which it is intended to carry out the desired reaction using the activated catalyst, or it may be activated in a different vessel. The activated catalyst undergoes substantial oxidation when exposed to air. In order to stabilize the catalyst it may be treated in an atmosphere containing a small amount of oxygen, for example about 1% oxygen in an inert gas such as nitrogen or argon. Alternatively the catalyst can simply be left in the activation reactor while bleeding in a small amount of oxygen. Thus, for example, the activated catalyst may be pacified by treatment in a reduced oxygen atmosphere, for example comprising less than 20 mol % oxygen, less than 10 mol % oxygen, less than 5 mol % oxygen or less than 2 mol % oxygen, for at least 30 minutes, especially for at least one hour. The resulting passified catalyst may now be handled or stored in air for brief periods without further substantial oxidation.

[0031] The supported catalyst precursor may also be formed by a sol gel method. Such a method is described, for example, in Gonzalez et al, Catalysis Today, 35 (1997), 293-317 and J. Livage, Catalysis Today, 41 (1998), 3-19. For example, in an initial “pregelation” step, an alkoxide or alcohol and a metal precursor are hydrolysed and condensed to form a gel, for example, in the presence of water. A cobalt compound is then added in a subsequent “post gelation” step and the gel is dried and calcined.

[0032] For example aluminium-tri-sec-butylate (ASB) in 2-butanol is treated with 1,3-butandiol. A hydrolysis reaction occurs. Co(H₂O)₆(NO₃)₂(hydrated cobalt nitrate) is then added and the resulting gel stirred for 1 hour at 85° C. The solvent is removed under a flow of air or N₂ at 40° C. to 100° C. for 2 to 3 hours. The solid product is calcined at from 400° C. to 1,000° C. for 2 to 5 hours to produce the supported catalyst precursor.

[0033] It is postulated, although we are not bound this theory, that the activation of the catalyst precursor forms a mixture of metallic cobalt and cobalt carbides such as Co₂C and/or Co₃C on the support. XRD analysis shows that, when H₂ is used to activate the same catalyst precursor, the Co metal peak intensity is much more intense than when a hydrocarbon is used, suggesting that the hydrocarbon gives rise to smaller particles of cobalt metal than when hydrogen is used. This advantageously increases the surface area of the cobalt metal, which in turn increases the catalyst efficiency. Thus the activated catalyst may comprise carbon, in any form including elemental carbon and carbides such as cobalt carbides, in an amount of, for example, up to 20 wt %, especially 0.02 to 10 wt %.

[0034] The catalyst produced by the process of the present invention may be used in any process where a cobalt catalyst may be used, especially when a fixed or slurry bed reactor is used. Thus, for example, it may be used in a POM reaction, Fischer-Tropsch reaction, a hydroisomerisation reaction or a hydrogenation reaction.

[0035] In a POM reaction a mixture of a hydrocarbon and oxygen is passed over the catalyst to produce syngas. The hydrocarbon preferably contains from 1 to 16 carbon atoms and more preferably from 1 to 5 carbon atoms. Most preferably it is methane or natural gas. The hydrocarbon may be saturated or unsaturated, for example containing from 1, 2, 3 or more double and/or triple bonds. It may be linear, cyclic or branched. The hydrocarbon may also be aliphatic and aryl or contain both aliphatic and aryl groups. One or a mixture of hydrocarbons may be used.

[0036] In the POM reaction the oxidant is normally O₂. It may be pure O₂. However, it may be supplemented with H₂O (steam) or CO₂, for example by addition to the feedstock. Thus O₂ and H₂O; O₂ and CO₂; or O₂, H₂O and CO₂ may be used. This results in oxy-steam or oxy-dry reforming of methane, respectively. By this means the exothermicity and product ratio may be controlled as desired. The O₂, and optionally H₂O and CO₂ may be used pure or diluted with an inert gas such as air, N₂, Ar or He.

[0037] Desirably the reaction takes place at a temperature of at least 500° C., for example from 700° C. to 100° C. Desirably the pressure is atmospheric pressure (101 kPa) or above, for example from 1 to 60 atmospheres (101 kPa to 6080 kPa), especially from I to 30 atmospheres (101 kPa to 3060 kPa). The space velocity of the reactants may be, for example, from 1000 h⁻¹ to 1,000,000 h⁻¹, preferably 10,000 h⁻¹ to 600,000 h⁻¹. The mole ratio of the hydrocarbon being oxidized and the oxygen is desirably chosen such that a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen is obtained in a stoichiometric ratio. Thus, for example, the atomic ratio of carbon such as methane to oxygen in the feedstock is desirably 0.9 to 5:1 or even higher, especially 1.0 or 1.8 to 3.5:1, more preferably 1 to 3:1, especially 1 to 2:1, especially about 1:1, although lower or higher ratios may also, if desired, be used.

[0038] It has been found that the catalyst produced by the process of the present invention usually has a number of advantages over cobalt catalysts which have been activated using hydrogen. Thus, for example, the catalysts are stable over time and do not suffer a decrease in activity. Furthermore the catalysts may have greater activity, for example an activity approaching that of ruthenium catalysts, but with the considerable advantage of being cheaper than ruthenium catalysts. Additionally it has been found that the catalysts produced by the process of the present invention do not promote carbon deposition, which is extremely undesirable in industrial processes. Cobalt catalysts activated with hydrogen typically suffer from carbon deposition after about 200 hours of use. The catalysts produced by the process of the present invention generally do not surfer from carbon deposition even after about 1000 hours of use.

[0039] The catalyst produced by the process of the present invention may also be used, for example, in a Fischer Tropsch synthesis reaction. Such a reaction produces a mixture of hydrocarbons and/or oxygenated hydrocarbons, for example gaseous, liquid and/or solid hydrocarbons and/or oxygenated hydrocarbons such as alcohols, from a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. Thus, for example, the reaction can be carried out immediately using syngas prepared by the POM method in directly linked reactors as disclosed in, for example, WO 01/36,323.

[0040] In the Fischer-Tropsch reaction, hydrogen and carbon monoxide are reacted over the activated cobalt catalyst at a temperature of, for example from 150 to 300° C. at atmospheric pressure (101 kPa) or above, for example from 1 atmosphere (101 kPa) to 20 atmospheres (2030 kPa). Similar advantages may be seen for the catalysts produced by the process of the present invention over those produced using pure hydrogen as an activating gas as for the POM reaction discussed above. Thus, for example, the catalyst may be more stable and/or more active. Similarly; it does not promote carbon deposition, and it may also be more selective to the desired mixture of hydrocarbons, especially hydrocarbons containing at least 5 carbon atoms. It may also produce a mixture of hydrocarbons having a great degree of unsaturation.

[0041] The present invention is now further illustrated in the following Examples.

EXAMPLE 1

[0042] 1.0 g of Al₂O₃ support (particle size>250 μm, dried at 120° C. for 2 h) was impregnated with 1.0 ml of 0.2M Ba(NO₃)₂ solution. The mixture was dried at 120° C. for 4 hours, followed by calcination at 600° C. for 4 hours to obtain a BaO modified support. This modified support (1.05 g) was then impregnated with 1 ml of 2.4M Co(NO₃)₂ solution for 2 hours. The resulting solid was calcined to 600° C. to give the oxide precursor of the cobalt catalyst. This was then treated with 30 ml/min of 50% CH₄/H₂ at 800° C. for 2 h, and then cooled to room temperature in flow of 50% CH₄/H₂. The activated catalyst was treated with 1.0% O₂/N₂ at room temperature for 6 hours, 0.1 g of the activated catalyst was placed in a quartz tube, heated to chosen reaction temperatures in N₂, then a mixture of CH₄ and air was introduced into the reactor at 100 kPa (1 bar). The reaction conditions and products are listed in Table 1. TABLE 1 CH₄ conversion and product distribution from methane partial oxidation (POM) over 12.5 wt % Co/Al₂O₃—BaO catalysts activated with 50% CH₄/H₂ to 800° C. for 2 h Reaction CH₄ CO CO₂ temperature conversion selectivity selectivity H₂/CO (° C.) (%) (%) (%) ratio 600 57.60 56.52 43.48 2.70 650 67.97 71.08 28.91 2.34 700 75.67 79.95 20.04 2.17 750 83.53 87.63 12.36 2.01 800 91.07 91.93 8.06 1.99

EXAMPLE 2

[0043] 1.0 g of Al₂O₃ support (particle size>250 μm) was impregnated with 1.0 ml of 0.2M Ba(NO₃)₂ solution. The solid was dried at 120° C. for 4 hours, and then calcined at 600° C. for 4 hours. The resulting BaO modified support (Al₂O₃—BaO) (1.05 g) was impregnated with 1 ml of 2.4M Co(NO₃)₂ solution for 2 hours. The mixture was then calcined at 600° C. to give the oxide precursor of the catalyst. This was treated with 20% C₂H₆/H₂ flowing at 30 ml/min at 630° C. and held at 630° C. for 2 h. The gas flow was stopped, and the reactor was cooled to room temperature without exposure to air. The catalyst was then treated with 1.0% O₂/N₂ for 3 h. 0.1 g of the ready-for-use cobalt catalyst was loaded to the quartz tube and heated to the chosen reaction temperature in N₂. A reactant mixture of CH₄ and air (CH₄/O₂ ratio, 2.01) was passed into the reactor at 100 kPa (1 bar). The reaction conditions and results are listed in Table 2. TABLE 2 CH₄ Conversion and product distribution from POM over 12.5 wt % Co/Al₂O₃—BaO catalysts activated with 20% C₂H₆/H₂ to 630° C. for 2 h Reaction CH₄ CO CO₂ temperature conversion selectivity selectivity H₂/CO (° C.) (%) (%) (%) ratio 600 60.74 63.92 36.08 2.60 650 71.81 71.08 28.91 2.34 700 77.18 81.86 18.14 2.13 750 84.78 88.63 11.37 2.00 800 92.05 93.93 6.07 1.99

EXAMPLE 3

[0044] 1.0 g of Al₂O₃ support (particle size>250 μm) was impregnated with of 1.0 ml 0.15M La(NO₃)₃ solution. The mixture was dried at 120° C. for 4 h and then calcined at 700° C. for 2 h. The resulting La₂O₃ modified support (Al₂O₃—La₂O₃) (1.05 g) was impregnated with 1 ml of 1.0 M Co(NO₃)₂ solution for 5 hours, and calcined to 700° C. It was then treated with flowing CH₄ at 700° C. and held at 700° C. for 1 h, and then cooled to room temperature without exposure to air. Then it was treated with 1.0% O₂/N₂ at room temperature for 10 h. The-ready-for-use catalyst (0.1 g) was loaded in a quartz tube and heated to the chosen reaction temperatures in 10 ml/min of CH₄. A mixture of CH₄ and pure oxygen (CH₄/O₂ ratio, 2.01) was passed into the reactor at 100 kPa (1 bar). The reaction conditions and product distribution are listed in Table 3. TABLE 3 CH₄ conversion and product distribution from POM over 5.6 wt % Co/Al₂O₃—La₂O₃ catalysts activated with pure CH₄ to 700° C. for 2 h Reaction CH₄ CO CO₂ temperature conversion selectivity selectivity H₂/CO (° C.) (%) (%) (%) ratio 600 57.94 66.09 33.01 2.60 650 67.88 73.25 26.75 2.45 700 73.47 80.9 19.1 2.12 750 86.83 86.63 13.37 2.04 800 93.41 93.89 6.11 2.00 900 94.83 96.23 3.77 1.99

EXAMPLE 4

[0045] 1.09 of α-Al₂O₃ support (particle size>250 μm) was impregnated with 1.0 ml of 0.12 M Pr(NO₃)₃ solution for 10 h while stirring. It was then calcined at 650° C. for 2 h. The resulting Pr₂O₃ modified support (Al₂O₃—Pr₂O₃) (1.05 g) was impregnated with 1 ml of 1.0 M Co(NO₃)₂ solution for 5 hours. The solid was calcined to 700° C. and held for 2 h, then cooled to room temperature. The resulting oxide precursor was then treated with 30 ml/min of CH₄ at 700° C. for 5 h and then cooled to room temperature. The activated catalyst was treated with 1.0% O₂/N₂ for 10 hours. The ready-for-use catalyst (0.1 g) was loaded in a quartz tube, heated to 860° C. in N₂, and then a mixture of CH₄ and air (CH₄/O₂ ratio, 2.01) was introduced into the reactor at several different flow rates and at 100 kPa (1 bar). The reaction conditions and product distribution are listed in Table 4. TABLE 4 Effect of space velocity on CH₄ conversion and product distribution from POM over 5.6 wt % Co/Al₂O₃—Pr₂O₃ catalysts activated with pure CH₄ to 700° C. for 1 h CH₄ CO CO₂ conversion selectivity selectivity H₂/CO GHSV (h⁻¹) (%) (%) (%) ratio  6,000 95.43 96.57 3.43 1.99 12,000 95.21 95.98 4.02 2.00 25,000 94.62 96.02 3.98 2.01 40,000 90.89 92.53 7.47 1.98 60,000 92.5 92.9 7.1 1.99

EXAMPLE 5

[0046] 1.0 g of the BaO modified support (Al₂O₃—BaO) was impregnated wish 1 ml of 0.75 M Co(NO₃)₂ solution for 5 hours. The solid was calcined to 750° C. and then cooled to room temperature. It was then treated with 14 ml/min of C₂H₆ at 600° C., and then cooled to room temperature. The activated catalyst was treated with 1.0 O₂/N₂ for 3 h. The ready-for-use catalyst (0.1 g) was placed in a quartz tube, and heated to the selected reaction temperatures in N₂. A mixture of C₂H₆ and, air (C/O ratio, 1.0) was passed into the reactor at 100 kPa (1 bar). The product distribution is shown in Table 5. TABLE 5 C₂H₆ conversion and product distribution from POM over 4.0 wt % Co/Al₂O₃—BaO catalysts activated with pure ethane to 600° C. for 2 h Reaction temperature C_(C2H6) S_(CO) H₂/CO (° C.) (%) S_(CH4) (%) (%) S_(CO2) (%) ratio 750 80.49 0.8 90.36 8.84 1.96 800 93.40 1.1 96.75 2.15 2.02 900 95.82 1.2 97.61 3.19 1.99

EXAMPLE 6

[0047] 1.0 g of the BaO modified support (Al₂O₃—BaO) was impregnated with 1 ml of 1.0 M CoC₂O₄ solution for 4 hours. The solid was dried at 100° C. for 3 h, calcined to 700° C. and held for 2 h, then cooled to room temperature. The resulting oxide precursor was treated with 30 ml/min of a mixture of 20% C₂H₅/H₂ to 750° C. and held for 2 If. It was then cooled to room temperature and treated with 1.0% O₂/N₂ for 2 h. The ready-for-use catalyst (0.1 g) was loaded in a quartz tube, heated to the selected reaction temperatures in static 20% C₂H₆/H₂ and held for 0.5 hours. A mixture of CH₄ and air (containing steam) (C/O ratio 1.0; H₂O/CH₄ ratio 1.0) was introduced into the reactor at 100 kPa (1 bar). The reaction conditions and product distribution are listed in Table 6. TABLE 6 CH₄ conversion and product distribution from oxy-steam combination reforming of methane over 5.6 wt % Co/Al₂O₃—BaO catalysts activated with mixture of ethane and hydrogen to 750° C. for 2 h Reaction CH₄ CO CO₂ temperature conversion selectivity selectivity H₂/CO (° C.) (%) (%) (%) ratio 800 81.68 92.56 7.44 1.99 830 85.95 94.58 5.42 2.02 900 91.46 96.47 3.53 2.09

EXAMPLE 7

[0048] 1.0 g of the BaO modified support (Al₂O₃—BaO) was impregnated with 1 ml of 1.0 M Co(NO₃)₂ solution for 5 hours The solid mixture was dried at 100° C. for 3 h, and calcined at 650° C. for 2 h. The resulting oxide precursor of the catalyst (0.1 g) was placed in a quartz tube and treated with 20 ml/min of a mixture of 10% CH₄/H₂ or H₂ to 800° C. for 2 hours. The reactant gas was then switched to a mixture of CH₄ and air (C/O ratio 1.0), and the temperature was increased to 850° C. The carbon deposition was measured after 200 h run, and the reaction was continued until the CH₄ conversion decreased to less than 90%. The reaction conditions and results are listed in Table 6. TABLE 7 Carbon deposition amount* and lifetime of 5.6 wt % Co/Al₂O₃—BaO catalysts activated with CH₄/H₂ and pure H₂ to 800° C. for 2 h Catalyst activated Amount of carbon Life-time with deposition (%) (h)** CH₄/H₂ 0.9 >1000 H₂ 6.6 260

EXAMPLE 8

[0049] 0.2 g of SiO₂ (>250 μm, dried at 200° C. for 4 h) was impregnated with 0.4 ml of water solution (containing 2.5M Co(NO₃)₂ and 0.2M ZrO(NO₃)₂) at room temperature, for 10 hours. The system was calcined at 450° C. for 4 h in air, cooled to room temperature, and then activated with 10% CH₄/H₂ at a temperature gradient of 2K/min to 500° C. and held for 1 h. Then it was cooled to 230° C., and the gas was changed to a mixture of 9 ml/min syngas (2H₂+CO) and 1 ml/min N₂, with the pressure being increased to 600 kPa (6 bar). The mass balance and product distribution are shown in Table 8. TABLE 8 Mass balance for F-T synthesis after 48 hour time-on-stream Reaction conditions: 230° C., 600 kPa (6 bar), 0.2 g CoZr/SiO₂ catalyst activated with 10% CH₄/H₂ Carbon Hydrogen Oxygen Nitrogen Gas Supplied ml/min mg/min mg/min mg/min mg/min mg/min mg/min Hydrogen 5.73 0.51 0.51 N₂ 0.70 0.87 0.87 CO 2.87 3.59 1.54 2.05 Total 9.30 4.97 1.54 0.51 2.05 0.87 Calculated from Conversion Selectivity GC analyses vol % ml/min mg/min mg/min mg/min mg/min (%) (%) Hydrogen 40.65 1.62 0.144 0.00 0.14 0.00 71.8 Nitrogen 17.61 0.70 0.874 0.00 0.00 0.00 Methane 6.80 0.27 0.193 0.14 0.05 0.00 14.18 CO 24.26 0.96 1.205 0.52 0.00 0.69 66.4 CO₂ 1.21 0.05 0.095 0.03 0.00 0.07 2.53 C₂ 0.76 0.03 0.040 0.03 0.01 0.00 3.17 C₃ 2.02 0.08 0.154 0.13 0.01 0.00 12.62 C₄ 2.47 0.10 0.249 0.21 0.04 0.00 20.57 C₅ 2.38 0.09 0.300 0.25 0.05 0.00 24.81 C₆ 1.45 0.06 0.218 0.18 0.03 0.00 18.10 C₇ 0.40 0.02 0.071 0.06 0.01 0.00 5.84 Total 100.00 3.97 3.543 1.56 0.35 0.76 H₂O O₂ 1.79 1.435 0.14 1.29 Balanced liquid H₂ Balanced 0.116 0.10 0.017 9.72 product Carbon Balance GC All analysis products Misc Nitrogen 100.0 100.0 GHSV (/hour) 1860 Oxygen 37.0 100.0 Gas Velocity (mm/s) 1.98 Hydrogen 68.5 100.0 Carbon 101.2 107.7

EXAMPLE 9

[0050] 1.0 9 of γ-alumina (dried at 120° C. for 4 hours) was impregnated with 0.8 ml of 0.5 La(NO₃)₃ solution at room temperature for 2 hours while stirring. The mixture was left to stand in air for 20 hours, afterwards calcined at 600° C. for 4 hours, and then cooled to room temperature. The La modified alumina was then impregnated with 1 ml of 0.8 M Co(NO₃)₃.6H₂O solution; the mixing stirred at room temperature for 4 hours, and left to stand in air for 6 hours. It was then calcined at 600° C. for 4 hours to provide a Co₃O₄/Al₂O₃—La catalyst precursor for methane partial oxidation to synthesis gas.

[0051] 0.01 g of the above catalyst precursor was loaded in a 6 mm (o.d) silica tube lined stainless steel reactor and treated with 4 ml/min of pure CH₄ to 900° C., and held at 900° C. for 30 minutes. Then a mixture stream of (6.1 ml/min CH₄+2.5 ml/min O₂ (pure)) was passed to the catalyst bed and the pressure increased to 800 kPa (8 bar). The catalyst performance is shown in Table 9. TABLE 9 Selectivity H₂/CO Tested time X_(CH4) to CO ratio (Hours) Catalyst 80.5% 98.7% 1.99 800 performance

[0052] Reaction temperature: 950° C.; pressure 800 kPa (8 bar) Feedstock composition: 2.5 CH₄/O₂, pure O₂ was used as the oxidant; excess methane was fed to eliminate the thermodynamic effect and increase yield and selectivity to CO₂ and H₂.CH₄ conversion and CO₂ selectivity were better in using air as the oxidant.

[0053] GHSV: 516,000 h⁻¹.

[0054] This makes it possible to configure a direct Fisher-Tropsch synthesis. 

1. A process for the preparation of a catalyst which comprises activating a catalyst precursor comprising a cobalt compound and a support with a gas comprising at least 5 mol % of a hydrocarbon.
 2. A process according to claim 1 wherein the support is alumina, modified alumina, silica, modified silica, β-aluminate, magnesia, titania, a spinel oxide, zirconia, a zeolite or carbon.
 3. A process according to claim 1 wherein the hydrocarbon is a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon containing up to 5 carbon atoms.
 4. A process according to claim 3 wherein the hydrocarbon is methane or ethane.
 5. A process according to claim 1 wherein the catalyst precursor is activated at a temperature of from 300° C. to 1000C.
 6. A process according to claim 1 wherein the gas comprises at least 10 mol % of the hydrocarbon.
 7. A process according to claim 6 wherein the gas comprises at least 20 mol % of the hydrocarbon.
 8. A process according to claim 1 wherein the gas also comprises H₂, N₂, argon, helium or a mixture thereof.
 9. A process according to claim 8 wherein the gas comprises H₂ and the ratio of hydrocarbon to hydrogen is from 0.04 to 10:1 on a molar basis.
 10. A process according to claim 1 gas consists only of the hydrocarbon.
 11. A process according to claim 1 wherein the catalyst precursor has been prepared by impregnating the support with a solution of a cobalt salt.
 12. A process according to claim 11 wherein the cobalt salt is cobalt nitrate, acetate or oxalate.
 13. A process according to claim 1 wherein the catalyst precursor has been prepared by a sol gel method.
 14. A process according to claim 1 wherein the catalyst precursor is calcined before activation.
 15. A process according to claim 14 wherein the catalyst precursor is calcined at a temperature of from 300° C. to 1000° C.
 16. A process according to claim 1 wherein the activated catalyst is pacified by treatment in a reduced oxygen atmosphere for at least 30 minutes.
 17. A process according to claim 1 wherein the catalyst precursor comprises from 0.05 to 30 mol % cobalt.
 18. A process according to claim 1 wherein the activated catalyst comprises carbon in an amount of up to 20 wt %.
 19. A process according to claim 18 wherein the activated catalyst comprises 0.02 to 10 wt % carbon.
 20. Use of a catalyst obtainable by a process as defined in claim 1 in the partial oxidation of a hydrocarbon.
 21. Use according to claim 20 wherein the hydrocarbon which is oxidised has from 1 to 5 carbon atoms.
 22. Use according to claim 21 wherein the hydrocarbon which is oxidised is methane or natural gas.
 23. A process for the partial oxidation of a hydrocarbon which comprises passing such hydrocarbon and oxygen over a catalyst obtainable by a process as defined in claim
 1. 24. A process according to claim 23 wherein the hydrocarbon is methane and the partial oxidation produces syngas.
 25. A process according to claim 23 wherein the atomic ratio of carbon to oxygen in the feedstock is 0.9 to 5:1.
 26. A process according to claim 23 wherein the oxygen is present in the form of a mixture of O₂ and H₂O; O₂ and CO₂; or O₂, H₂O and CO₂.
 27. A process according to claim 23 wherein the oxygen is diluted with N₂, Ar, or He.
 28. Use of a catalyst obtainable by a process as defined in claim 1 in a Fischer-Tropsch reaction.
 29. A process for the preparation of a mixture of hydrocarbons by Fischer-Tropsch reaction, which comprises passing a mixture of carbon monoxide and H₂ over a catalyst obtainable by a process as defined in claim
 1. 